Comedian Tommy Chong fighting prostate cancer

Tommy Chong, one half of the "marijuana loving" comedy duo "Cheech and Chong" announced Saturday that he has been fighting prostate cancer

Chong told CNN that he was diagnosed with the disease just last month, but that he first started noticing symptoms years ago when he was incarcerated for selling drug paraphernalia. He revealed the news in an interview with Don Lemon about the legalization of marijuana. According to Celeb Stoner, Chong believes he was infected with the disease because the prison he was in was "built on toxic waste." He also said the food there gave him gout. Chong, who is 74, also said he had been drug free for 3 years when he began having problems with his prostate, CNN reports. "So I know it has nothing to do with cannabis," he said. "Cannabis is a cure." Chong said he hasn't smoked marijuana for about a year due to "health reasons." Instead, he ingests hemp oil before bed. He told Don Lemon that he uses the hemp oil as "medicine" for his disease. Celeb Stoner reports that the hemp oil was created by Canadian activist Rick Simpson. According to the Cheech and Chong fan blog, it is unclear whether or not Chong has also been treating his disease with Western medicine.